Signal or alarm transmitter and time-indicator



(No Model.)

6 Sheets- Sheet 1. A. J. REAMS. SIGNAL 0R ALARM TRANSMITTER AND TIME INDICATOR.

j/ Patented July 9.1889. Z

Imam/foie (No Model.) 6 sheets-Sheet 2.

A. J. REAMS.

SIGNAL 0R ALARM TRANSMITTER AND TIME INDICATOR.

Patented July 9 (N M d 1 6 Sheets-sneet 3;

0 e A. J. REIMS.

SIGNAL OR ALARM TRANSMITTER AND TIME INDICATOR. No. 406,769. Pat wel` July 9, 1889.

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6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

l(No Model.) A. SIGNAL 0R ALARM TRANSMITTER AND TIMR INDICATOR.

No. 406,769. Patented Ju y 9, 1889.

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(No Model.) 6 Sheets- Sheet 5.

' A. J. REAMS. SIGNAL 0R ALARM TRANSMITTER AND TIME INDIGATOR.

Patented July 9, 1.889.

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(No Model.) e sheets-Sheen e.

A. J. REAMS. SIGNAL 0R ALARM TRANSMTTER AND TIMB'INDIGATOR.

No. 406,769. Patented July 9, 1889.

WIIWESSES .71. 56W

r l l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDRET .L REAHS, OF EL DORADO, KANSAS.

SIGNAL ,OR ALARM TRANSMITTER AND TIME-INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,769, dated July 9, 1889. Application ned lingue s, '1338. sentira. 281,916. (Numan.)

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW J. REAMs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of El Dorado, in the county of Butler and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Signal or Alarm rliansmitter and Time-Indicator; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a combined signal or alarm transmitter and time-indicator.

The object is to produce an apparatus which will automatically transmit electric signals or alarms, and also the time to any number of electric dials in a building, and from the same clock. y

IVith these objectsr in view the invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts ot' a combined signaler alarm transmitter and time-indicator, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specilication, illustrated in the drawings, an d pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which like letters ot' reference indicate corresponding parts, I have illustrated one form of device embodying the essential features of my invention, although the same may be carried into effect in other ways without departing from the spirit thereof, and in these drawings- Figure l is an elevation showing the clock mechanism and the automatic circuit-closer. Fig. 2 is a view ofthe back plate of the clock mechanism, showing a ratchet-wheel secured to the minute arbor and an arm for engaging the said ratchet-wheel. 1 Fig. 3 is a rear elevation, partly in section, of the automatic circuit-closer and mechanism for operating thev hand or pointer. Fig. 3a is a side elevation of the' circuit closed. Fig. a is a front elevation of the switch-board. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. G is a detail view of a disk for closing the circuit of the clock mechanism to cause it to transmit an alarm or signal at a certain time. Fig. 7 is a detail view of a wheel, showing a cam secured to one side. Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of the metallic plates of the switch-board, showing anumber of wires secured thereto. Fig. 9 is an elevation of the back ot' the casing, showing plates secured thereto on its inner side for connecting the device with the battery. Fig. lO is a detail view of a portion of the clock mechanism. Fig. Il is a plan view of the clock mechanism. Fig. l2 is a detail View of the hand or pointer, and Fig. 13 is a diagram showing the complete circuit.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the casing ot' the clock mechanism and the automatic circuit-closer, which may be made of any suitable material and ornamented in any manner to produce a neat and iinishcd cas* ing. \Vithin this casing is secured the clock mechanism B, the motive power of which may be either a spring or a Weight, and may be made to wind electrically inthe manner set forth in Letters Patent granted to me .I une l2, 1888, and numbered 384,472.

On the minute-arbor l of the clock and in Jfront of the frame-plate 2 is secured a wheel 3, (seen more clearly in Fig. 10,) having a pinion i secured thereto, the said wheel meshing with a pinion 5, carrying on its arbor a disk 6, (see Fig. 6,) made of any suitable material-such, for example, as hard rubber or compressed paper.. On the inner face of the disk and secured to the arbor extending through the same is a'strip of metal 7, the

ends of which are bent up and form arms 8,

which rest in grooves 9 in the periphery of the disk, and at diametrically-opposite points.

These arms are to be dressed down, so as to be flush with the face of the periphery of the said disk.

To the clock-frame and directly opposite the disk is secured a block 10, of a suitable insulating material, having secured to its outer side a metallic spring ll, one end of which projects downward and terminates in an arm l2, which is slightly curved outward. To the upper end of the block is secured a thin spring I3, terminating directly over and resting upon the periphery of the disk. The

mechanism for operating this disk is so adjusted that itis caused to revolve once in every ten minutes, and by means ofthe arms 8 on the periphery will close the circuit every five minutes; but the disk may be constructed IOO with ten arms or be caused to revolve ottener, thus closing the circuit at shorter intervals, as desired, and by making the arms wider the duration of the signal or alarm may bc increased. Thus, while the spring is resting upon the insulating material between the arms, the current will be cut ott' until another arm is brought in contact with the spring'.

Directly opposite the disk and secured to the frame-plate el' the clock isa stud ll, carrying an intermediate wheel and pinion 15 secured together, the wheel meshing with the pinion 4c on the minute-arborof the clock. An hour-wheel 17 is secured to asleeve journaled en the minute-arbor and meshes with the intermediate pi nien 1S. On the sleeve of the heur-wheel, and in front of it, is secured a wheel 19, which mesheswithawheel20,havingdouble the number of teeth, the said wheel revolving en a stud secured te the plate-frameot the clock. This wheel 2O has secured on its inner side a cam 2l, which is tobemade et'mctal. One end of this cam is slightly curved inward, as shown at 22. The wheel carrying this cam is designed to revolve but once in every twentyefour hours. Opposite to this wheel and secured to the platetrame et the clock is a bleek of insulatingI material upon which is pivoted a lever 2l. This lever is bent nearly at right angles and has secured at the end a strip of non-conducting material 2G, having a roller 27 pivotcd thereto. This roller is designed te be engaged by the inner face of the cam on the wheel '230. The object for which this operates will be described farther on. To the insulated portion of the lever is attached a coiled spring 28, the opposite end of the same being secured to the clock-trame to hold the lever 24 in its normal position. The opposite end 2S) of the lever is designed to be brought in contact with the arm l2 of the spring' on the insulated block, the thin spring i3 being in constant contact with the disk. As the wheels revolve, the cam engages the end et" thelever carrying the roller and forces it up,thus closing the circuit for twelve hours. As the wheel 2O revolves and the roller comes opposite the open portion 30 between the two points of the cam, the spring draws the lever back, breakin g the cu rrent for twelve hours, and thus savinthe batteries. During this time no alarms can be sounded without changin g the pregran'nne a'tter it has been once set. A wire Si is cennected te the screw which holds the leverin place en the block, and extends down and connects with the automatic circuit-closer (l, which will be described farther en.

On the rear end of the minute-arbor is secured a ratchet-wheel 32, havin g twelve teeth. Directly above this wheel and pivoted to the back frameplate of the clock is an arm 33, to which is secured a pin 34e, projecting out laterally, so that it will engage the teeth on the ratchet-wheel. To the end opposite the pivotal point of this lever is attached a wire 35, which passes down and engages an opening in one end of a piece of insulating material SG, the opposite end et the said picco being engaged by a wire which connects with the mechanism et the automatic circuitrcloser (l. This circuit-closer consists ot a plate il?, which may be made et any suitable insulating material, such wood tiber, hard rubber, orany other suitable non-conducting material. ln the enter portion ot this plate are secured a number of pieces of metal 32%, arranged radially in a circle and corresponding to every live minutes ot' time. There will, consequently, be one hundred and forty-tour ot these pieces in the circle, as that is the number et five-minute periods contained in twelve hours; but the division ot' it may be altered, as desired as, tor example, to have them ar` ranged to ten minutes. These pieces are sc cured through openings formed in the plate, and have secured to each of them an electric wire, which passes down and connects with the progrannne switch-board Il), situated below or to one side the clock mechanism. On thc back et the plate on which the circle ot' metal pieces are secured is a trame, consisting ot' two plates Si), secured together by pillars lt0. These plates Aiorin the bearing lor the revolving parts et the mechanism 'tor operating the hand or pointer on the automatic circuit-closer. This mechanism consists ol' a wheel lll, revolving on an arbor l2, the said wheel revolving a pinion til, secured to it, meshing with the wheel tl, secured to a sleeve i5, which projects through the plates and through an opening in the plate to the front et' the same. To the rear portion et the arbor carrying' the sleeve is secured a ratchetwheel lithaving twelve teeth, and on the same arbor is pivoted a lever l?, carrying a pawl i8, for engaging the ratchet-teeth, the said pawl 4:8 being kept in position by means et' a spring it). To the back plate secured a stud 50, on which is pivoted a pawl l, dcsigned to engage the ratchet-wheel. te prevent retrograde movement et the same when the pawl At8 is operated. The outer end et' the lever is lett long, so that itmay descend by its own weight and rest upon a stoppin 53, secured to the back plate.

Te the lever t? is secured at a suitablcdistance from the arbor carrying the sleeve a wire 53, which extends upward and connects with the insulating material Sti, to which the wire from the clock is connected, the object of this insulating material being to prevent any current passing from the clock mechanism to the automatic circuit-closer. The contact hand er pei nter 54- is made, )iel"e1':'il)l v, ot' some goed conducting material-such, for instance, as copper or brass-and has secured at its outer end a number et' spring-hangers 55, which are directly over the circle et' metal pieces and project toward the same, having their ends bent out slightly, so tha-t they may ferm` frictioual contact with each ot' the metal pieces without any danger ot hanging or catching upon the same. The manner in-which the lever is adjusted in the mechanism tor operlOO IIO

ating this hand or pointer is such as to cause it to revolve in the same direction as the hands of a clock; but it will be readily seen that by changing the relative positions of the pawls the hand may be caused to revolve in the opposite direction.

The circuit-closer and the clock-works are electrically connected by a wire 31, one end being secured to the frame of the mechanism on the back of the circuit-closer and the other end passing up and connecting` with the lever 24 on the clock-frame. As the clock runs and the pin on the arm 33, secured to the clockframe, is engaged by a tooth of the wheel 32 on the minute-arbor, the free end of the lever is raised and the wire 53, connecting the arm with the mechanism of the circuit-closer, is raised, thereby causing the pawl 48 to engage the ratchet-wheel. certain distance, and this movement is transmitted through the pinions and wheels to the pointer, which is thereby moved from one metal piece to another every iive minutes. As the tooth passes under and by the pin, the levers are free to drop to their normal position, and the pawl 4S engages another tooth, and so on, closing the circuit every iive minutes.

If desired, I may place the automatic circuitcloser behind the dial of the clock and operate the contact-hand directly from the sleeve of the hour-wheel instead of below, as shown.

Below the clock-case and connected thereto,

an d forming apart of the same, is a programme or alarm switch D, consisting of a number of metallic strips 57, having perforations or holes 58 formed therein, vthe said strips being arranged in a series of twelve, each strip corresponding to five minutes of time. Each of these strips is numbered to correspond with the live-minute division of the time-dial, as 5, 10, 15, rbc., the hours from 1 to 12, and may be arranged to read from right to left or from left to right, so as to prevent the crossing of the wires 59 on the back of the board. The numerals may be printedl on vany suitable material, and secured to the board or printed directly on the board. Each strip is secured to the said board by screws or other equivalent form of fastening device, and has one end connected by suitable binding-screws or otherwisewith a conducting-wire from the corresponding metal piece 3S in the automatic circuit closer above described. Below the strips are a number of metal plates GO, corresponding wit-h the number of rooms in thev building or place where the clock is to be used, and each plate is provided with a binding-post 60', and to the back are secured any number of insulated wires 602, which pass through suitable openings in the board. The

tree ends of the conducting-wires are tippedwith a suitable wire 61, and their ends are split, as shown at G2, so as to form springs to insure perfect contact when inserted in the strips for which they are intended to be used. The points of the wire are protected by fer- The arbor t2 is turned a.

rules G1', ot' any suitable insulating material, and made in any desired shape, the object being lso to prevent contact with the other points when set close together.

To the binding-post of each plate GO is connected one end of the conducting-wire 56', the other end being connected to one bindingpost 55 of an electric bell 562, as shown in Fig. 13. Now, it will be seen that by inserting the metal tip of one of the insulated wires GO2 in one of the holes in the strip a connection is made between that strip and the plate to which the said wire is attached. Vhen the contact hand or pointer arrives at the metal piece corresponding to the plate in which the insulated wire is inserted, the circuit is completed and the bell 562 will be sounded.

To set the programme or alarmit is only neeessary to insert the tips in the conductingwires in the strips on the programme switchboard corresponding to the time the signalis wanted, and each room may have any number of signals sounded at intervals ot time, as close together as five minutes between each of the signals. The number of rooms for which this switch-board may be iitted up will be regulated by the building in which it is placed; but for the sake of illustrating this device I have only shown eleven in this instance, as it will be only necessary to make the strips longer and add more openings, and then add a corresponding number of roomplates and conducting-wires to accomplish this result. Below the room-plates and on the back ot the board are placed a number of similar metallic strips 63, of the same number as there are bells to be used,the same being secured by means of screws G8 to the back of the board, and each one connected by a suitable wire 64', either with the bindingpost screws or otherwise, on each room-plate. A heavy plate ot' metal 64, pivoted at each end to suitable shoulders G5, secured to the back of the frame, is secured below these strips. On the outer edge of this heavy plate are secured thinner pieces of springtempered metal GG, which are designed to bear upon the strips G3, secured tothe back of the trame and directly above them. At a point upon the upper surface ot this plate (34 is secured a shoulder G7, provided with the opening G8, in which is secured a spiral spring (if), which passes back and is secured to the frame, the object of this spring being to hold the plate G4 up and out of contact with the strips below it. To the said shoulder and in the saine opening in which the spiral spring is secured is attached a wire which extends upward and is connected with an arm 70, se-

cured to a stud 71, Which passes through the board and has a crank 72 secured to its outer side, the object of this lever andwire being that by turning it to one side, and thus drawing up the wire, the plate (Si will be drawn down,and thus connect all of the wires, so that an alarm may be sounded'simultaneously in every part of thebuilding by simply IOO IIC

IIS

turning the lever to one side, thus torcingthe plate of metal down on the strips below them and close the circuit with all the bells. Vhen it is desired to cause them to stop ringing, it is only necessary to turn the lever in the opposite direction, thus opening the circuit, when the belts will cease to ring.

The circuit is completed as follows: A wire 73 leads from one pole of the battery to the switch-plate 73, secured to the back of the clock-casing, (see Fig. 0,) which has a wire 74: passing through the back of the casing and connected to the trame of the clock at 7i. From the cloekframe the current passes through the works and arms S on the circuitclosing disk 6 to the spring l1 and to the arms 24: on the twelve-hour cut-out7 from thence by the wire 231 to the works on the plate of the circuit-closing device below the clock, through the contact pointer or hand to the pieces et metal 3S .in the circle, and by each. wire to the corresponding strip on the alarm or progrannne switch-strips 58, from t-hese strips by the conducting-wires carrying the tips (il they are inserted in the different strips to the roonrplates (50, and through the wires connecting with the binding-post UO to one binding-post ot the bell 5U?. A wire 57 leads from the other binding-post 572 to a three-point push-button 75, having the bellcircuit always closed, from the central point of the push-button to a wire 7(5,leading from the other pole ot the battery, thus completing' the circuit. One end of a wire 77 connects with the switch-plate '73 and passes down on the inside of the casing and connects with the plate (54, Fig. 5, pivoted directly over the metallic strips 63, which are connected by a wire 7S to each of the roomstrips through their binding-posts to the dii'- ferent bells when the crank 72 is turned, thus closing the circuit, as before described. The annunciator 79 is placed in circuit by a wire SO from switch-plate 73, Fig. t), to the bindingpost Sl of the annunciator-bell, and from the other binding-post a wire S2 leads to the lower or open circuit-spring 83 of the pushbutton 75 of the bell 502. It will be seen as the button is pressed the bell-circuit to the clock is opened and the circuit to the annunciator closed by the other battery-wire being eut into circuit, thus sounding the bell and indicating the number ot the room signaling.

It will be seen by adding insulating-cords provided with split tips that anybell may be sounded at short intervals throughout the day or night and repeat itself every twenty-:tour hours; but, it desired, the clock can be made to sound bells at longer or shorter intervals, as betere described.

It will be seen that, although this deviceis comparatively simple of construction and requires no more care than an ordinary clock would, it has a much wider range tor usefulness and is less liable to get out of: order.

'The interior is easy of access for setting the prospace corresponding to l2 ocloclc.

gramme or alarm, which maybe accmnplished bysimply inserting the tip ot' a wi re connected with any room it is desired to alarm in the metal strip corresponding with the time the alarm or signal is wanted.

The operation ot the clock is as follows: As the clock runs and the minute-arbml is revolved the pivoted lever on the back f rame is raised by the ratchet-wheel, operating the pointer or hand on the circular switch below. As the contact hand or pointer is moved from one metal piece to another the ratchet-tooth passes under the pin on the pivot-ed arm, and the hand is allowed to rest on the metal piece for a short time. A t this moment one ot' the arms in the disk G passes under the spring' ifi and closes the circuit. YV hen another tooth on the ratchel-wheel on the 1ninute-arbor engages the pin on the pivoted arm, it raises it and advances the contact pointer or hand to another space or piece, and so on, making and breaking the current automatically every live minu tes. The circuit in the program nie-switch D being normally open, the bells are only sounded when the circuit is closed by the tips ot the insulated cords being inserted in one of' the holes of the strip ot the programme switch or dial and the clock arrives at the time cor responding to the strip so placed. The progrannne or calls once set may be lett for any length of time, and will be repeated trom day to day, but may be instantly changed to any time desired-as7 for example, in the present case the clock indicates 5.50 ocloclc and the pointer on the circle is on the segment or Now, it the tip of one ot' the wires oi a room numbered l be inserted in the tirst strip in section 2, then as the piece ol` metal in the small disk passes under the spring and ,in contact with it bell No. il will be sounded. It all the rooms had a tip inserted in that strip, then all the bells connected withv them would ring.

rl`he tips of the tlexible comflucting-wires may be inserted in holes in the trame or lett hanging down when not in use, all the con necting-wires from the programme-dial bein closed on the back of; the same and protected from injury or accident.

Having thus fully described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, with the clock-frame, of a block oit insulating material secured thereto, an L-shaped lever pivoted upon the block having an arm ot an 'insulating material and the other arm ot a ceiulueting material, a circuit-closing disk, and springs en gaging the disk and conducting-arm ol` the lever, substaiitially as described.

2. The combination, with the sleeve ot the hour-wheel, of a wheel secured thereto,a stud on the frame, a cam-wheel on the stud en ga ging the wheel on the sleeve ol the hour-wheel,

an L-shaped lever pivoted to a block ot' insulating material 'secured to the trame, a rollei` IIO on the lever engaging the cam-Wheel, and a spring for engaging L-shaped lever7 substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combinat-ion, with the sleeve of the hour-wheel, of a wheel secured thereto, a stud secured to the frame and carrying a cam-wheel meshing-with the said wheel, an L-shaped lever pivoted to the frame and carrying a roller engaging the cam-wheel, and a spring for drawing the lever out of contact with the camwheel, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with -the clock mechanism, of an automatic circuit-closing device constructed of a plate of suitable insulating material, having a series of metal pieces arranged in a circle, a contact hand or pointer mounted above the said pieces, mechanism connecting with the hand or pointer, and an insulated wire connecting the clock mechanism and mechanism for operating the hand or pointer, whereby, when the clock is in operation, the hand or pointer will be operated at determined intervals, substantially as and for the purpose specied.

5. The combination, with the minute-arbor,

of a ratchet-wheel secured thereto, a leverpivoted above the same and havingapin engaging the ratchet-wheel, an automatic circuitcloser below the clock mechanism, a hand or pointer moving over the same, and an insulated rod connecting with the lever on the clock and operating the hand or pointer on the circuit-closer, substantially as and in the manner described.

G. The combination of an automatic circuitcloser, metallic pieces secured thereto, a switch-board, and conducting-wires connecting the metallic pieces and s\vitcl1-board,a contact hand or point-er mounted above the metallic pieces, and mechanism for operating the hand or pointer, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto atXed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW J. REAMS.

XV itnesses:

WM. H. ELLET, ALvA SHELDEN. 

